GB2090561A - Keyboard device with contacts distributed in a plurality of planes - Google Patents

Abstract

A keyboard device with the contact of one and the same electrical circuit distributed in a plurality of planes comprises a first sheet of insulating and deformable material in which there are impressed bosses 6 carrying the electrical contacts, a second insulating sheet carrying electrical contacts to cooperate with the first ones, these two sheets being flexible and cut out in the form of branches radiating from a centre, which branches are held in position between two rigid members 4 and 5 and folded to occupy different planes in space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Keyboard device with contacts distributed in a plurality of planes The present invention relates to the keyboards in which contact is obtained by pressing down a deformable diaphragm and particularly a keyboard device with its keys disposed in different planes.

The keyboards of this type comprise, in general, a first sheet of insulating and deformable material in which bosses, which are generally hemispherical, are impressed in relief and on the rear faces of which electrical contacts are deposited, for example by silk-screen printing, the contacts being connected to appropriate circuits and cooperating, upon deformation of the bosses, with other contacts carried by the front face of an insulating plate disposed behind the first and comprising a second electrical circuit with which the first is to be connected.

In the known devices, the keys are only disposed in a single plane whereas it may be necessary to provide keys distributed in a plurality of planes and controlling the same electrical circuit, for example to form a switching keyboard in the form of a handle device.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device with contacts of one and the same electrical circuit distributed in a plurality of planes, comprising a sheet of insulating and deformable material impressed with bosses on rear faces of which are disposed electrical contacts connected to appropriate circuits and arranged to cooperate, upon deformation of said bosses, with other contacts carried by a front face of a second insulating sheet disposed behind the first and comprising a second electrical circuit with which the first is to be connected, the two insulating sheets being flexible and in the form of branches radiating from a centre, said branches being held in position between two rigid members and folded to occupy different planes in space.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 are plan views of different examples of configuration for flexible sheets of keyboard devices in accordance with this invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of one keyboard, in accordance with the invention, when flat; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same keyboard; Figure 7 is a view to show the assembly of the same keyboard; and Figure 8 is a view to show an example of a spring catch to an electric circuit.

In accordance with this invention, a keyboard device comprises (Figure 6) a flexible insulating sheet 1 impressed with bosses 6 arranged to cooperate with electrical contacts 7 disposed on a second flexible insulating sheet 2, the two sheets being cut out in the form of a plurality of branches 3 radiating from a centre 9, for example in the form of a cross (Figures 1 and 2) of a Y (Figure 3) or a star (Figure 4), each branch 3, as well as the centre 9 being inserted (Figure 6) between two rigid members: a rear member 4 and a member 5 constituting the front face of the keyboard and pierced by apertures 8 in line with the bosses 6 to permit the manipulation of these. The two cooperating members 4, 5 are held together by appropriate means, for example by ultrasonic welding. The device thus prepared is then assembled by folding (Figure 7) the flexible sheets.

Locking of the branches into position can then be effected by a spring catch or by any other means.

Moreover, in order to provide iighting of the keyboard and/or of the keys, it is sufficient to provide a transparent material for the flexible sheets and the rigid members. In this case (Figure 8) the spring catch of the keyboard may be formed by means of a support 10 of the electrical circuit providing the lighting.

The device which has just been described has the advantage of requiring a small number of parts which are simple to produce, the consequence of which is great facility in assembly and checking.

The construction of the front member 5 of the keyboard is only given by way of example; it is, of course, possible to replace it by any other means enabling actuation of the bosses while ensuring the holding of the flexible sheets and, in particular, may be as described in French Patent Application 79 1 7 392 or its patent addition application 7931549.

1. A keyboard device with contacts of one and the same electrical circuit distributed in a plurality of planes, comprising a sheet of insulating and deformable material impressed with bosses on rear faces of which are disposed electrical contacts connected to appropriate circuits and arranged to cooperate upon deformation of said bosses, with other contacts carried by a front face of a second insulating sheet disposed behind the first and comprising a second electrical circuit with which the first is to be connected, the two insulating sheets being flexible and in the form of branches radiating from a centre, said branches being held in position between two rigid members and folded to occupy different planes in space.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the flexible sheets are of transparent material.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the rigid members are of transparent material.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the rigid member constituting the front face of the keyboard is formed with apertures in line with the bosses.

5. A device as claimed in one of the Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the two rigid members are fixed to one another by ultrasonic welding.

6. A device as claimed in one of the Claims 1, 2,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Keyboard device with contacts distributed in a plurality of planes The present invention relates to the keyboards in which contact is obtained by pressing down a deformable diaphragm and particularly a keyboard device with its keys disposed in different planes. The keyboards of this type comprise, in general, a first sheet of insulating and deformable material in which bosses, which are generally hemispherical, are impressed in relief and on the rear faces of which electrical contacts are deposited, for example by silk-screen printing, the contacts being connected to appropriate circuits and cooperating, upon deformation of the bosses, with other contacts carried by the front face of an insulating plate disposed behind the first and comprising a second electrical circuit with which the first is to be connected. In the known devices, the keys are only disposed in a single plane whereas it may be necessary to provide keys distributed in a plurality of planes and controlling the same electrical circuit, for example to form a switching keyboard in the form of a handle device. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device with contacts of one and the same electrical circuit distributed in a plurality of planes, comprising a sheet of insulating and deformable material impressed with bosses on rear faces of which are disposed electrical contacts connected to appropriate circuits and arranged to cooperate, upon deformation of said bosses, with other contacts carried by a front face of a second insulating sheet disposed behind the first and comprising a second electrical circuit with which the first is to be connected, the two insulating sheets being flexible and in the form of branches radiating from a centre, said branches being held in position between two rigid members and folded to occupy different planes in space. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 are plan views of different examples of configuration for flexible sheets of keyboard devices in accordance with this invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of one keyboard, in accordance with the invention, when flat; Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same keyboard; Figure 7 is a view to show the assembly of the same keyboard; and Figure 8 is a view to show an example of a spring catch to an electric circuit. In accordance with this invention, a keyboard device comprises (Figure 6) a flexible insulating sheet 1 impressed with bosses 6 arranged to cooperate with electrical contacts 7 disposed on a second flexible insulating sheet 2, the two sheets being cut out in the form of a plurality of branches 3 radiating from a centre 9, for example in the form of a cross (Figures 1 and 2) of a Y (Figure 3) or a star (Figure 4), each branch 3, as well as the centre 9 being inserted (Figure 6) between two rigid members: a rear member 4 and a member 5 constituting the front face of the keyboard and pierced by apertures 8 in line with the bosses 6 to permit the manipulation of these. The two cooperating members 4, 5 are held together by appropriate means, for example by ultrasonic welding. The device thus prepared is then assembled by folding (Figure 7) the flexible sheets. Locking of the branches into position can then be effected by a spring catch or by any other means. Moreover, in order to provide iighting of the keyboard and/or of the keys, it is sufficient to provide a transparent material for the flexible sheets and the rigid members. In this case (Figure 8) the spring catch of the keyboard may be formed by means of a support 10 of the electrical circuit providing the lighting. The device which has just been described has the advantage of requiring a small number of parts which are simple to produce, the consequence of which is great facility in assembly and checking. The construction of the front member 5 of the keyboard is only given by way of example; it is, of course, possible to replace it by any other means enabling actuation of the bosses while ensuring the holding of the flexible sheets and, in particular, may be as described in French Patent Application 79 1 7 392 or its patent addition application 7931549. CLAIMS

1. A keyboard device with contacts of one and the same electrical circuit distributed in a plurality of planes, comprising a sheet of insulating and deformable material impressed with bosses on rear faces of which are disposed electrical contacts connected to appropriate circuits and arranged to cooperate upon deformation of said bosses, with other contacts carried by a front face of a second insulating sheet disposed behind the first and comprising a second electrical circuit with which the first is to be connected, the two insulating sheets being flexible and in the form of branches radiating from a centre, said branches being held in position between two rigid members and folded to occupy different planes in space.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the flexible sheets are of transparent material.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the rigid members are of transparent material.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the rigid member constituting the front face of the keyboard is formed with apertures in line with the bosses.

5. A device as claimed in one of the Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the two rigid members are fixed to one another by ultrasonic welding.

6. A device as claimed in one of the Claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 fixed, in the folded configuration, in a support of an electrical circuit serving to light the device.

7. A keyboard device substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 6, 7 or 8 of the accompanying drawings.